Category Archives: Street

Counterfeit Money and the Patrol Officer

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Randall

I was lucky to have taken a class in Fraudulent Documents when I was a detective.  I found the entire subject riveting (really).  Back at my agency, I get requests to examine currency for the officers when they are on counterfeit calls.  I try to pass along some basics to the patrolmen, because there are a few shortcuts to identifying real money from fake. Quick ground school on the Federal Reserve Note:  “Paper” currency is made from 75% cotton and 25% linen.  To be durable and hard to reproduce, U.S. currency is more cloth than traditional paper, which is made largely from wood cellulose. The counterfeit pens you see used … Continue reading →

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OIS

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Randall

I was the supervisor on scene when a gunfight broke out between the suspect and an officer at a wanted subject call two nights ago.  All the officers reacted appropriately and the incident eventually came to a successful conclusion.  I was proud of our troops and of the troops from the two assisting agencies that responded to help. Following the volley of gunshots (and after ducking), I had been moving some of our guys around on the perimeter, adjusting fields of fire, when I asked one of the officers to take up a position further east.  He was proned out behind a tree with his AR.  As he went to … Continue reading →

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What You Don’t Know…

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Randall

The weather was beautiful, so my wife and I took a walk to get out of the house.  Along the journey, we headed down the sidewalk near a set of waterfront condos.  There was a sheriff’s office cruiser parked parallel to our path.  As we went by the driver’s side of the patrol car, my wife and I waved to the deputy sheriff.  She was young and appeared to be talking on her cell phone–no problem there, she was stationary.  That would pass muster under our General Orders.  She smiled and nodded back to us–good public relations for Starman. I could not help but feel uneasy as I was strolling … Continue reading →

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Easy on the Less Lethal…

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Randall

I just got back from an armed barricaded suspect call.  Why do they always come out right at the end of shift?  I was a little taken aback when I saw that the three officers at the door to the knife-wielding suspect’s room were armed with either TASERs or a less lethal beanbag shotgun.  I made some adjustments to the personnel configuration and brought a handgun up to the door. We practice to have lethal cover with a less lethal option available when practical.  But the lethal cover should be up front, not from the guy way at the back of the stack.  When another sergeant and I did the … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Safety, Street, Tactics, Taser | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Lakewood, CO Blue-on-Blue is a Safety Reminder

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Randall

I read a CNN news report of a Blue-on-Blue shooting in Lakewood, CO yesterday where one officer accidentally killed another.  Lakewood officers had surrounded a house where shots were reportedly fired by a suspect.  After assisting in detaining three subjects on the front porch, Ofc. James Davies went to the backyard as a rear cover.  Another officer in an adjoining yard could see Davies through a fence, but in the dark did not visually identify him as a police officer.   After giving Davies commands to drop his gun, the other officer fired and killed Davies. Ofc. Davies was in full uniform at the time of the shooting and apparently did … Continue reading →

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Police Field Training and Natural Selection

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Randall

I am no longer an active Field Training Officer, but I am now in charge of them on my shift.  As an FTO supervisor, I had the duty this week of accepting the resignation of one of our recruit officers.  It’s part of our natural selection. For the last twenty-plus years, I have been involved in this drill in one capacity or another.  We hire a nice kid, see him/her through the Academy, mold them further during department familiarization, then introduce them to the real job in a field training car.  Percentages vary class by class, but generally anywhere from 10-50% of our recruits do not make it to being … Continue reading →

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Testing National Police Ammunition’s Simulated Duty Round

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Randall

National Police Ammunition is an ATF licensed South Florida manufacturer of law enforcement ammunition.  NPA specializes in lead-free, frangible ammo and has developed the SDR, or Simulated Duty Round, for police applications. The SDR is designed to mimic the performance of police duty rounds and be an accurate, reliable, and cost effective alternative.  NPA lists some of the following advantages: • Proprietary loading techniques prevents projectiles breaking when chambered which is common with frangible ammunition • Power factor equivalency “Felt” recoil • Line of Sight = Point of Impact • Fully Frangible non jacketed projectile • Reduced ricochet • Available with lead-free, heavy metal free primers (standard primers also available) … Continue reading →

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Bushnell Marine 7X50 Binoculars for Law Enforcement Use

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Randall

Surveillance is a daily component of the job as a law enforcement officer.  A good pair of binoculars and the understanding of how they work are essential to the task.  Bushnell’s Marine 7X50 binoculars are outstanding in this arena.  Why?  That requires a little explanation. Tech alert:  if you don’t want to learn about how binoculars work, too bad. A binocular optic enhances our vision by magnifying the light that enters our eyes.  Binocular vision means having two eyes arranged for stereoscopic viewing, which gives us depth perception. The magnification power of a binocular is the first number, say, 7 in 7X50.  These binoculars have a 7 power (7X) magnification … Continue reading →

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Milspec Plastics’ Cobra Cuff is NTOA Member Approved

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Randall

Milspec Plastics touts their Cobra Cuffs as “the only patented double-locking, foldable, disposable restraint” on the market.  Strong, UV stabilized, and Made in the USA, the Cobra Cuff has a restraining strap riveted to the zip-tie to aid in prisoner control through leverage.  Milspec said their product has a 300+ lbs. assembled tensile strength.  Their latest press release is below. Randall MILSPEC PLASTICS COBRA CUFFS ARE NATIONAL TACTICAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NTOA) MEMBER TESTED AND RECOMMENDED Asheville, NC (August 2012) – Milspec Plastics, manufacturer of the patented Cobra Cuffs and distributor of additional arrest, riot control and personal security products for law enforcement, corrections, military and professional security agents, has secured … Continue reading →

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NYPD Officers Forced Into Difficult Shooting Scenario

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Randall

My headline was not the one I read on a mainstream media news website.  It said something like, “NYPD Shoots Nine Bystanders Before Killing Suspect.”  Considering  that in a crowd of people, the two officers shot sixteen bullets and hit a gun-wielding homicide suspect nine times at center of mass, I’d say my headline is closer to reality. The suspect, Jeffrey Johnson, is seen at the top center of the video walking toward the left and carrying a briefcase.  Officers Craig Matthews and Robert Sinishtaj enter from the top right.  Johnson was walking from the scene where he had just shot a co-worker five times in the head with a … Continue reading →

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Open Firearms Carry Wastes Officers’ Time

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Randall

I saw this on another blog and it reminded me that there are conservative factions attempting to legalize open carry in Florida. In the densely populated, urban county in which I live, I fear that dwindling police services will have resources drained by these types of calls for service from alarmed citizens. This video is an example of two guys just trying to waste the officers’ time with obstructive discourse. Nice job by the officer. Yeah, we don’t always articulate things perfectly. Just the same, he is courteous and professional in the face of the amateur armed “confrontationalists.” The officer’s function check of what he discovered to be a .22 … Continue reading →

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Pensacola Officer Arrested for Battering DUI Suspect

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Randall

The Pensacola Police Department fired K9 Officer Christopher Geraci for excessive force on Friday, then arrested him for misdemeanor battery in connection with his hit and run/DUI investigation on August 2. Suspect Abbi Bonds struck several cars with her late model Chevy Camaro at 2:30 in the morning.  Her vehicle was disabled with heavy damage and pulled to the side of the road several blocks from the crash scene when Geraci found her. After Geraci orders her back into her car several times, she refuses while continuing to talk on her cell phone.  He attempts to handcuff her.  As he does so, he tries to rotate her against her car.  … Continue reading →

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Safariland/Kona Introduces New Patrol Bike 29er

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Randall

This press release went out after the IPMBA Conference in May.  I recently received another email notification about the bike.  I have some time with Cannondale and Smith & Wesson police mountain bikes under me.  This one has some nice features.  Video attached below from SHOT Show 2012. JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Safariland®, a BAE Systems line of business, announced today at the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) Conference that it is introducing a brand new Patrol Bike product line for the law enforcement market. Safariland has teamed with Kona USA, one of the world’s leading all-terrain bicycle manufacturers, to develop the flagship product in the line, the Safariland®/Kona® Patrol … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., SHOT Show, Street, Technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

FLIR Entry Level Thermal Imagers for Law Enforcement

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Randall

FLIR Systems, Inc. has released a new line of thermal imagers that are affordable (by thermal imaging standards).  The PS-series is initially aimed toward the civilian hunting market, but will branch into the law enforcement and maritime markets this year.  The E-series is an industrial use thermal imager with police applications.  Starting prices for the units are $1,999.00 for the PS-series and $2,500.00 for the E-series. I stopped at the FLIR booth at the 2012 SHOT Show and checked out one of their Scout PS24 imagers.  This model is an entry level device, but it has terrific tactical potential. The PS24 has a color LCD viewfinder display that can be … Continue reading →

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Police Back-Up Revolver

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Randall

Predominantly, I carry a back-up revolver on duty.  I have tried auto-pistols in calibers ranging from .380 ACP up to .40 S&W cal.  None of them quite fit my criteria is several ways. Of the autos I own or have tested, the .380’s always seemed too small (in the hand) and a .40 was too much gun (a brick on the ankle).  I want something concealed carry size, but one on which I can find sure purchase.  Grip size and carry considerations are at the forefront of my personal selection process. Besides these, I am concerned about the functioning of a semi-automatic in a truly close quarters fight.  Revolvers fire … Continue reading →

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